Clinical features of patients who died within 24 h after admission to a stroke care center

Objective: In Japan, stroke care is provided through medical cooperation and standardized treatment. However, various factors affect mortality in the hyperacute phase. The present study investigated factors associated with death within 24 h after admission for acute stroke. Methods: Among 2335 patients admitted within 24 h after stroke onset from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012, a total of 139 deaths occurred. Forty-eight deaths occurred within 24 h after admission. We retrospectively examined the clinical features of these 48 patients. Results: The overall mortality rate was 6.0%. When the initial 72-h period was divided into ≤24 h (Period I), >24 to 48 h (Period II), and >48 to 72 h (Period III), deaths were significantly more frequent in Period I than in the other two periods. The frequency of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) was also significantly higher in Period I than in the other two periods. Factors significantly associated with death from ICH were systolic blood pressure, hematoma volume, and surgery. Conclusion: The mortality rate was low among patients with stroke transported to the authors’ medical center within 24 h of onset. Blood pressure management and the timing of determining indications for surgery are important factors in acute haemorrhagic stroke care.